Macbeth has not failed to show how evil he can become. After he killed Duncan, his brain started to twist. His conscience soon began to distort so much, he planned the killing of Banquo. He killed his best friend over power and his title. “"All power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"--Lord Acton,” (Meyers) is the basis of this play. This obviously means that he will do everything to keep the throne. It also means that Macduff was next on his list. He had gone to England to gain Malcolm's trust and aid, and that meant his family was undefended. Obviously, he kills Macduff’s wife and son. It is this scene, as said by my teacher Mr. McGee, that is the most intriguing. Why? The messenger comes in, Lady Macduff and him talk, her …show more content…
Trust is the basis of the entire play, so why wouldn’t it be used here. It is first introduced with Duncan’s trust, as explained by Hunt; “A conferred title in Shakespeare's plays most memorably transforms character for the worse when Duncan makes Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. This conferral not only helps corrupt Macbeth; it also works indirectly to destroy Duncan in ways that have not been described.” (Hunt) At the beginning of this scene, Lady Macduff catches wind that Macduff has left for England a long time ago. She feels betrayed. Ross insists that she trust her husband’s judgment and then regretfully departs. Once he is gone, Lady Macduff tells her son that his father is dead, but the little boy perceptively argues that he is not. Suddenly, a messenger hurries in, warning Lady Macduff that she is in danger and urging her to flee. Lady Macduff protests, arguing that she has done no wrong. A group of murderers then enters. When one of them denounces Macduff, Lady Macduff replies with something unusual. She says, “I hope, in no place so unsanctified Where such as thou mayst find him.” Woah, but didn’t she think that he was a traitor? The trust in the play is continually flip-flopped to where it’s hard to know what trust there actually is, and that’s the …show more content…
There is the obvious example of “fair is foul, and foul is fair.” (A1,S1,L10,pg.323) This is the infamous line that sets up the entire play of Macbeth. Mack describes the witches as: “They have considerable power of insight and suggestion, we gather, but they do not determine a man's will, and Macbeth never blames them for influencing what he has done, only for tricking him into a false security.” (Mack) Lady Macduff doesn’t have any insight, only blunt facts. In this scene, Lady Macduff expresses her anger at the fact that Macduff left her and his son vulnerable. She calls her son fathered, but fatherless. Her son does have a father, but considering how Macduff left them like a coward, he might as well not have a father. It’s somewhat confusing why it is a paradox when it is explained, but it is simply easier to think of it as a contradiction blown out of proportion. She also is strangely quick to defend her husband when the murderers come to kill Macduff, which could also be counted as a paradox, or
In William Shakespeare's "Macbeth", there are two brave heroes, Macbeth and Macduff, who are also noble leaders and husbands. Although both have two very different personalities, they are also somewhat alike. In this play, Macbeth plays the villain role and Macduff plays the heroic role. Macduff, the thane of Fife, was not only loyal to the king, but was also a very brave soldier. He was generally very happy with his life and cherished his child greatly.
She then questions what she had done to deserve to be killed and realizes that, doing evil is smart and doing good is foolish. She says, “I am in this earthly world, where to do harm/ Is often laudable, to do good sometimes/ Accounted dangerous folly” (4.2.71-73). This shows dramatic irony because the audience knows that Macbeth has been doing evil while being rewarded for it, but when Malcolm fled to save his life he was accused of murder, even though he was innocent. Although, the character do not know this. In Act 3, after Lady Macduff and her son were killed, Ross lies to Macduff and says that his family is fine. He then tells Macduff that with him in Scotland, they would get people to fight Macbeth. After Macduff agrees to go to Scotland and fight, Ross tells him about his family, “Your castle is surprised, your wife and babes/ Savagely slaughtered” (4.3.20-206). This shows dramatic irony because, the audience knew that Macduff's family was killed, but he did not. Macduff then decides that he will not even think, he is ready to kill Macbeth. Dramatic irony helps build the theme of acting before thinking because, while the audience knows the foul things that are happening, the character do not, causing them to start acting to get revenge, without
Machiavellian rulers are known to be able to be very evil but effective. Macbeth in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, is a true Machiavellian ruler. However, he fails to embody these traits effectively. He abuses the powers of his position which causes an uproar within his kingdom. It is this uproar which leads to his eradication from the throne.
the battle is drawing closer Macbeth shows some potential good. He wishes for a normal life in which he would have lived to an honorable age but he recognizes that he has ruined any chance of that. Even when Macbeth hears that the prophecy has come true of Birnam Wood coming to Dunsinane, he rejects this idea and fights on until he realizes that Macduff wasn't born in a natural birth but instead was "Untimely ripped" from his mother's womb. When Macbeth hears of this he realizes what he has done and how he has been tricked by the witches. Although he has come to that realization, he continues to fight only to be slain in the end.
He ended up killing his best friend, and even the king. “I go, and it is done. The bell invites me. / Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell / That summons thee to heaven or to hell.” (Shakespere, 2.1, 63-65) Macbeth who was once a very good person, went out to murder the king. Just because he thought he had a chance at ruling the country he decided to do something evil. Ever since he heard that prophecy he did not stop until it came true. As the play goes on Macbeth becomes more and more evil, destroying everything in his path. “Not in the legions / Of horrid hell can come a devil more damned / In evils to top Macbeth.” (Shakespere, 4.3, 57-59) Macduff says this after he finds out Macbeth had killed all his children and his wife. Macbeth has become a villain and will not stop at anything. The prophecy has caused nothing but trouble for Macbeth, he is now feared and hated everywhere. It changed an innocent kind man, into an evil feared man.
However, they knew that Macduff’s army would use the Birnam wood to cover their numbers when advancing up to Dunsinane. Another example of the witches using deception is when they say, “Fear not, Macbeth. No man that’s born of woman shall ever have power upon thee.” This is also another use of equivocation by the witches, as Macbeth thinks every person has to be born of woman, therefore he shall not fear anybody or be concerned about them killing him. However, once again, the witches knew Macduff was not born from his mother, but rather was a caesarean born baby, therefore he does not fit the prophecy given by the witches.
Desperate, Macduff “ is gone to pray the holy (English)king upon his aid”. Not only is Macduff putting his own life in danger, but he is also leaving his wife and kids very vulnerable. Macduff, however being the patriotic man, chooses to do what is his best for his country and follow his conscience in extension. Although his wife and kids do perished under Macbeth’s reign, Macduff is ultimately awarded by the new title he earns from Malcolm when Macbeth is finally overthrown. This might not cover the loss of his family, but Shakespeare is implying that he and his family will be reunited in heaven. Macduff did in fact follow his conscience in making decisions that are hard costing even the lives of his family, but he is able to continue to lead a peaceful life and be reunited with his family once in heaven while Lady Macbeth, most likely, soul is forever tormented by the scorching flames.
The classic Shakespeare tragedy Macbeth is a tale of a man who chases his wildest dreams and only once he acquires them realizes he lost everything he previously had. This play is full of heartbreak and drama on many levels throughout the entire cast. A common theme throughout the play is friendship and friendship goes hand in hand with trust. On the topic of friendship, Albert Camus once said, “Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” In the beginning of Macbeth, Macbeth and Banquo walk together, side by side, as equals, but they will never become equivalent again, not even in death. The main areas
She doesn’t understand the reason Macduff went to England, so she calls him unmanly. She doesn't understand that he went to England to get Malcolm to help him fight Macbeth. Later in the scene, Macbeth’s murderers come to the Macduff’s castle and kill everyone in it including his family. There are three reasons that act four scene two is important to the play Macbeth.
At Macduff’s castle, Lady Macbeth is angry at Macduff for leaving his family behind. She thinks Macduff is a coward. Ross says that Macduff left because of wisdom, not fear. Ross leaves, Lady Macduff tells her son that his father is dead. He doesn’t believe her, she asks if he thinks he is a traitor.
After Macbeth said that he sent three murders to kill Banquo. He did this because he thought that Banquo would be a potential problem for him when he would have the throne. Macbeth does not want to Banquo to interfere by exposing the witches’ prediction about him being king to the public. This is what drove him to commit the murder of Banquo. In conclusion, this scene illustrates that Macbeth’s ambition would make him do anything to get the throne.
Darius grant English 12 Mrs. Krudwig Dec. 4, 2015 ambition can be a weakness Macbeth's ambition to be king, lead him to kill numerous people, and his ego was driven by the witches and the prophecy, making him believe he can’t be affected by a mortal that was born out of a woman's womb. Macbeth is first introduced in Macbeth as a courageous and brave man. Also his wonderful morals. In this case, his desire to be the best person he can be is what motivates him to do these good deeds. Disdaining Fortune, with his brandish'd steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valour's minion carved out his passage Till he faced the slave."
Macduff knew that Lady Macbeth and Macbeth were the ones planning on killing King Duncan and taking over the throne. Macbeth wasn’t the main pursuer of this, more like Lady Macbeth encouraging him to do this. The Lady Macbeth planned it all out and Macbeth was the one that would be taking the rack for it. Lady Macduff did not know what was happening as her husband Macduff left her and her son without saying good bye or giving any reasons why. Starting to put together what has happened to Macduff, Lady Macduff explains to Sirrah (Son) what has happened to his father, “Sirrah, your father's dead;
During the first scene, he discusses with the witches the various prophecies of Hecate. Immediately thereafter, he makes the decision to attack Macduff’s innocent family. “Seize upon Fife; give to th’edge o’th’sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him [Macduff] in his line” (IV, i, 150 - 152). Macduff, as the thane of Fife, holds some power in Scotland as a whole. As the play progresses, it becomes evident that Macbeth is willing to take all necessary actions for power from whoever he must, in whatever way he must. Macbeth therefore states in his aside that he is willing to kill Macduff’s entire family in order to protect himself from Macduff taking away his power as king. Family has most often been referred to as a support system; a set of people who are always there for you. Macbeth’s guilt is therefore proven, as he has become so hungry for power, that he is taking all steps necessary to bring Macduff to his knees so he cannot strip Macbeth of his stature as king. How? Simply by taking from Macduff what he values the most: his family. By doing so, Macbeth proves his own guilt for the murder of Duncan. As a result of Duncan’s murder, Macbeth has become so greedy and ruthless that he will do anything to gain more power as king. Macbeth is therefore guilty for Duncan’s murder as evidenced
It is especially evident in the scene that Lady Macduff is a foil to Lady Macbeth. Lady Macduff is a morally good character, and she values being a loyal and loving wife. She does not interfere with Macduff’s decisions, and therefore, does not greatly influence his decisions. Lady Macduff is aware of the world’s unfairness and is cognizant of her surroundings. She aims to be a protective and caring mom, “I have done no harm” (Shakespeare 59).